HOT Lanes Or Lexus Lanes

Is congestion pricing an equitable system for congestion pricing, or a privilege for the rich? Columnist Jay Hancock offers his perspective.

1 minute read

January 5, 2004, 7:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

Highway gridlock is a classic 'tragedy of the commons' -- well known to tree-huggers -- in which a public resource is drained because there is no marginally higher pricing for marginally higher use and greater scarcity. HOT lanes would help put a proper price on driving... HOT lanes in California and Houston are reportedly used by drivers from all socioeconomic groups... You hate beltway congestion? You want the government to build more lanes? Great. Pay for them. Pay each time you use them and let those who live close to work or want to risk stop-and-go in the free lanes live their own lives and escape the toll."

Thanks to Laura Kranz

Read the full story: Let special toll lanes whisk us out of gridlock

Sunday, January 4, 2004 in Sun Spot

Transportation Maryland

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